MINUTES OF DUNOON PARENT COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2014

PRESENT

David Mitchell (HeadTeacher)Caroline Keith

Jacqui Livingstone (Chair)Carol Forbes

Ailsa Dominick (Vice Chair)Diane McCheyne

Betty Adams (Treasurer)Rhona Altin

Stephen Hyde-Linaker (Secretary)Marie McCormick

Louise Taylor-Kavanagh (Minute-Taker)Paul Wilson

Alyson DawesGraham Togwell

Melissa McCrossanFiona Biggart

Audrey Forrest

Michaela Goan

Christine Lambert

Shona Alexander-McGarry

George Banks

Aileen Wilson

APOLOGIES

Amanda Noble, Jelena Finnie, Fiona McColm, Gillian Purdie, Morven Banks, Sara Martin, Holly Walker, Alison Barron, Ailsa Miles, Sallie Condy.

MATTERS ARISING

1)Clarification of reference to Mr Hamilton and UCAS in previous meeting. Action: Mr Mitchell to ask Mr Hamilton about sending information about UCAS web-site to S5 and S6 parents

2)School dinners – Mr Mitchell reported that there are still some

complaints about certain items running out.

3)Athletics affiliation – Diane McCheyne reported that DGS was still not named on the web-site, but Mr Mitchell replied that the cheque had been sent off to the Athletics Association before the last Parent Council Meeting.

4)Lockers – Mr Maclean has been given the role of looking with the Senior Leadership Team at the issue of lockers before the summer.

5)Noticeboard quotes – Mrs Biggart reported that the quotes so far were £500-600 but someone in the Technical Department was looking into the possibility of making them.

6)A letter to Burgh Hall had been sent regarding safety of pupils at parties.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were proposed by Stephen Hyde-Linaker and seconded by Ailsa Dominick.

CORRESPONDENCE

We have received a letter from Pamela McNaughton requesting funding on behalf of DGS Pipe Band. The Parent Council agreed to offer some funding in principal but we would like more specific details.

Action: Stephen Hyde-Linaker to contact Pamela to get more details about how much funding they are looking for and if any specific items are required.

HEAD TEACHERS REPORT

1)Staffing – Mr Mitchell discussed the ongoing difficulties across the whole of the region with filling teaching posts. The Parent Council discussed whether we could be more pro-active, for example, putting in an advert ourselves for positions.

2)Options – under the new system 9 subjects would be studies in S3, 7 subjects for 4 periods a week in S4 and then dropped subjects could be picked up in S5.

3)Some parents stated that they had not received the Prelim Timetable for the Highers. Action : Mr Mitchell would put this on the school web-site tomorrow.

4)Study Leave – anyone siting Nat 5’s will get study leave and those in S5/S6 will get study leave.

5)Communication – appreciation was given for recent positive texts and letters received about pupil progress. Parents commented that it would be useful to have standardisation between teachers about texts regarding NABs, tests, homework and important deadlines. The Parent Council felt these helped parents encourage their children with school work and were better than finding out about negative outcomes after the event, when they knew nothing about them in the first place. Comments were also made about the disparity between homework given between different subjects and that sometimes homework did not appear to be marked or the pupils not given any feedback. Action: Mr Mitchell to look into this issue and positive postcards being implemented soon

PARENT ZONE/SCHOOL WEB-SITE

Mrs Biggart has been looking at Parent Zone. Please email Fiona and let her know what you would like to have on this web-site.

SCHOOL ALCOHOL/DRUG POLICY

Mr Mitchell handed out documents showing the format of the education provided.

Further information: Louise Taylor-Kavanagh, through her links with the local Addiction Service, has found an excellent leaflet available for parents. It is called, ‘You, your child and drugs’ and can be downloaded from.

It would also be useful for students to read, too.

TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Internet safety

Promotion of music within DGS

FUND RAISING

Mr Mitchell to start looking at the idea of a 5K Run

AOB

None

FUTURE MEETINGSWednesday 26th Feb 7pm

Tuesday 22nd April7pm

Wednesday 4th June AGM7pm